Fountain pen with blotter



Oct. 28, 1941. M. J. WALDINGER FOUTAIN PEN WITH BLOTTER Filed Aug. 22, 1940 1 jNYENTOR: aal/wee J ATTORNEY Patented Oct. 28, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FOUNTAIN PEN WITH BLOTTER Maurice J. Waldinger, Flushing, N. Y. Application August 22, 1940, Serial No. 353,596 15 Claims. (01. 120-26) This invention relates to fountain pens and removable blotters therefor.

One of the principal objects of the invention is to provide a means of attaching a rotatable blotter to the oapor barrel of a fountain pen, which permits the blotter to be easily and quickly r'emoved'and replaced by a fresh blotter when necessary.

Another object is to provide a combined pen and blotter arrangement which eliminates waste space in the device.

' Another object is to provide such aconstruc tion which is compact in size. convenient to use, and pleasing in appearance.

Another object isto provide simple and efficient means for holding the blotter in place.

Another object is to provide a device which is simple and inexpensive to manufacture.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the following specification, or will be obvious therefrom or from the drawing, without being specifically pointed out.

With the above and other objects ofthe inven{ Fig. 2 is a view on an enlarged scale, taken at right'angles' to Fig-1 and partly broken away,

trating a modification of the invention; and

Figs. 5 and 6 are views, on a smaller scale than Fig. 1, illustrating another embodiment of the I invention, Fig. 5 showing one element thereof in perspective and Fig. 6 being a side elevational view partly in section.

Referring first to the embodiment shown in tion II is cut away at opposite sides as indicated at l5, and is provided with a pair of 'V-shaped notches l6. v

l1 indicates a tubular member which fits in the end ll of the barrel l0, and carries a blotter 20. This member I! is preferably slightly larger at the end which enters the barrel, .and said end is notched at each side, as indicated at l8, so as to be slightly compressible for insertion in the barrel and in order to resiliently frictionally en-' gage the latter when in place.

The cylindrical blotter 20 is mounted on a shaft 2|, mounted in the extensions 22 of. the member l1. When in place, the outer ends'of the shaft 2 I engageithe notches l6, being pressed toward the lower points thereof when inserted and also forced therein by the pressure of use,

and the blotter consequently rotates normally upon the shaft; rather than the shaft in its bearings.

23 indicates a cap for covering the blotter when not in use, and closing the end 'of the barrel, which cap is provided with screw-threads 24 for engagement with threads I2.. '25 indicates an -outer cap, of conventional .'or any suitable construction, for covering the pen-point M in the usual manner when carried in the pocket and which may be placed over the cap 23 when writ-' ing. The engagement of screw-threads l2 and '24 prevents accidental removal of cap 23-when removing cap 25 therefrom.

The blotter 20 is formed of any suitable absorbent material, and may be either of solid form or of layers of blotting paper or the like.

When desired. to insert a fresh blotter, the member I! may be merely drawn out from the barrel and discarded, and a new member ll, carrying the fresh blotter, inserted in its place, as the construction is such that the entire attachment comprising member l1, blotter 20 and shaft 2|, is so inexpensive that the same may be ad- Figs. 1, 2 and 3, I0 indicates the barrel of the r pen, the'upper end portion II' thereof being of reduced diameter. Screw-threads l2 are provided'at the base of portion I I. I3 indicates the ink sac, and M the pen point, both of the latter and the parts connected therewith being of conventional or any suitable construction. The porvantageously manufactured and sold in that form for replacement and a small quantity kept on hand by the user of the pen.

Preferably, however, the member I! is removed and a fresh blotter inserted in the same, eitheron the same shaft or with a new shaft, The shaft being of the same diameter throughout its length, and not upset at its ends, is removable from the blotter 20 and member I1, when freed from its engagement with notches l6.

It will be seen that this construction not only provides a simple, inexpensive and convenient means of inserting and replacing the blotting device, but also provides a pen of compact size and pleasing appearance, owing to the insertion of the member IT in the end of the barrel adjacent and partially surrounding the ink sac and the positioning of the blotter in what is ordinarily waste space, rather than the attachment of the device at the end of the barrel and the consequent increase in size of the pen as a whole.

A slight modification would permit the member I! to be placed as a sleeve outside the end ll of the barrel, the blotter 20 nevertheless extending into the barrel and the shaft 2| lying in the notches I6 in the same general manner as shown.

Fig. 4 illustrates, in fragmentary extended View, a modification of the device in which the barrel I is provided with notches 36, the sides of which are parallel and which notches are of smaller width than the diameter of the shaft 2|, so as to grip the same. As shown, the construction is further modified by eliminating the member H, the gripping action of the notches 36 being utilized alone to support the shaft 2| and thereby the rotating blotter 20. The material of the barrel having ordinarily a slight resiliency, this construction would prevent accidental removal or loss of the blotting device, at the same time permitting free removal and replacement when desired.

In the embodiment shown in Figs. 5 and 6, the blotter is mounted in the cap of the pen. 40 indicates the barrel of the pen, and 44 the pen point. The cap is formed of a tubular portion 55 and an end closure 65.

Mounted in the open outer end of the tubular member 55 of the cap, is a cylindrical member 41, shown separately in Fig. 5. Arms 52 are provided, the outer ends 53 of which are folded inwardly as shown. In said portions 53 are slots 46; th outer end of each slot is at the line of the fold, the outer portion of the same has substantially parallel sides and is of slightly less Width than the diameter of shaft 5!, upon which is mounted the blotter 50. The inner end is enlarged to approximately conform to the diameter of said shaft.

When the device is assembled, the ends of shaft 5| are normally held in place in said enlarged ends of slots 46, and lateral displacement is prevented by the outer or main portions of arms 52. When the blotter is not in use, the end closure 65 of the cap is placed over the same, frictionally engaging the member 41, the continuous outer surfaces of the two parts of the cap being then in alignment and presenting the appearance of a unitary cap. When writing, the two-part cap is placed as a whole at the opposite end of the barrel, the end closure being removed when desired to use the blotter. The pressure on the blotter in use co-operates to hold the shaft in place.

When it is desired to insert a fresh blotter, the resiliency of the material of member 41 and its arms, permits the shaft 5| to be drawn outward through the narrow portions of slots 46, without bending or distortion of the arms relatively to the length of the shaft. A new blotter is then placed upon the same or a new shaft, and the ends of the shaft pressed inward until the same are resiliently held in place in the enlargements of the slots as above described.

Although I have shown and described one form of attaching means as used in the cap and another form. at the end of the barrel, it will be obvious that substantially the same construction as shown in the cap could be applied at the end of the barrel, or substantially the construction shown in connection with the barrel, could be embodied in the cap.

The advantages of simplicity, inexpensiveness, convenience in use and in replacing the blotter, compactness and pleasing appearance, are present in all the embodiments shown. Placing the blotter in the cap provides the additional advantage that only the single end closure of the cap need be removed when it is desired to use the blotter.

I do not limit myself to the particular details of construction which have been shown and described, as the same comprise only certain, embodimens of the invention and it is obvious that the same may be varied, within th scope of the claims hereof, without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is as follows:

1. A blotting attachment for fountain pens or the like, comprising a slightly tapering tubular member and a rotatable blotter mounted near the smaller end thereof, the larger end thereof being notched, whereby said tubular member is compressible for insertion into or removal from a cylindrical opening in a pen construction and resiliently frictionally engages the same when inserted therein.

2. A blotting device for a fountain pen or the like, having a barrel open at the end opposite its writing point, comprising a rotatable blotter and means removably attaching said rotatable blotter to said barrel, said means comprising a tubular member for insertion in the open end of said barrel and a shaft mounted in said tubular member and carrying said blotter, said barrel being provided with oppositely disposed notches at said open end and said shaft being provided with projecting ends for engagement with said notches.

3. A construction as defined in claim 2, in which said shaft is adapted to be removable from the blotter in freely slidable relation.

4. A construction as defined in claim 2, in which said shaft is of substantially the same diameter thruout its length, whereby it is removable from the blotter in freely slidable relation.

5. A construction as defined in claim 2, in which said barrel contains an ink sac and said tubular member is inserted in said barrel partially surrounding said ink sac.

6. A construction as defined in claim 2, in which said barrel and said tubular member are provided with registering cut-away portions to cause lateral exposure ofsaid blotter.

'7. A construction as defined in claim 2, in which the inner end of said tubular member is notched, whereby said end is compressible for insertion into or removal from said barrel and said member resiliently frictionally engages said barrel when therein.

8. The construction defined in claim 2, together with a cap for covering said blotter when not in use and closing the open end of said barrel.

9. A blotting device for a fountain pen or the like having a barrel open at the end opposite its writing point, and means for removably attaching said blotting device thereto, comprising a rotatable blotter, a shaft upon which said blotter is mounted, the open end of said barrel being provided with oppositely disposed notches and the ends of said shaft removably engaging said notches.

10. A blotting device for a fountain pen or the like having a cylindrical opening, comprising a rotatable blotter mounted upon a shaft, and a cylindrical frame fitting in said opening and provided with a pair of extending arms, each of which is folded upon itself at its outer portion and is provided with a slot in its resulting inner layer and extending inwardly from said fold, said slots being of less width than the diameter of said shaft thruout the greater portion of their length and being enlarged at their inner ends, the ends of said shaft being normally resiliently held in said enlargements and being removable longitudinally thru said slots.

11. A blotting device for a fountain pen or the like having a cylindrical opening in its construction, comprising a rotatable blotter and means removably attaching said rotatable blotter adjacent said opening, said means comprising a tubular member for insertion in said opening, a shaft mounted in said tubular member and. carrying said blotter, said pen construction being provided with oppositely disposed notches adjacent said opening and said shaft being provided with projecting ends for engagement with said notches.

12. A construction as defined in claim 11, in which said shaft is adapted to be removable from said blotter in freely slidable relation.

13. A construction as defined in claim 11, in which said tubular member and the edges adjacent said opening are provided with registering cut-away portions to cause lateral exposure of said blotter.

14. A blotting device for a fountain pen cap having a cylindrical opening in its outer end, comprising a rotatable blotter mounted upon a shaft, and a cylindrical frame fitting in said opening and provided with a pair of extending arms, each of which is folded upon itself at its outer portion and is provided with a slot in its resulting inner layer and extending inwardly from said fold, said slots being of .less width than the diameter of said shaft thruout the greater portion of their length and being enlarged at their inner ends, the ends of said shaft being normally resiliently held in said enlargements and being removable longitudinally thru said slots.

15. A blotting device for a fountain pen cap having a cylindrical opening in its outer end, comprising a rotatable blotter and means removably attaching said blotter to said cap, said means comprising a tubular member for insertion in said opening, a shaft mounted in said tubular member and carrying said blotter, said cap being provided with oppositely disposed notches adjacent said opening and said shaft being provided with projecting ends for engagement with said notches.

MAURICE J. WALDINGER. 

